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Ministry to disburse funds to cover healthcare agency
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Deputy Finance Minister Mardiasmo (Antara/IORA SUMMIT 2017/Widodo S. Jusuf)
T
he Finance Ministry has promised to disburse more funds to cover the Health Care and Social Security Agency’s (BPJS Kesehatan) deficit because the revenue from premiums paid by clients was not enough to cover healthcare costs.
“The disbursement is being processed and I am required to monitor everything,” said Deputy Finance Minister Mardiasmo in Jakarta on Tuesday. He did not mention the amount and disbursement schedule.
Kontan.co.id previously reported that the amount was about Rp 5.6 trillion (US$386 million).
Mardiasmo said the disbursement was based on an evaluation by the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) and would be taken from the reserve fund allocated in the 2018 state budget.
In August, the BPKP announced that BPJS Kesehatan’s total deficit had reached Rp 10.98 trillion. In September, the Finance Ministry disbursed Rp 4.9 trillion to help cover it.
BPJS Kesehatan administers the National Health Insurance (JKN) program, which has 195.2 million members.
Low-income members’ premiums are paid in full by the government, while the difference is split between privately employed workers and employers. Independent workers and non-workers must pay the premium themselves. (bbn)
